Floodplain restoration as a Stormwater BMPhttp://www.crwp.org/files/floodplain_restoration_sw_management_march_2009.pdf

- Development/impervious/hard surfaces prevent infiltration of storm water into the ground and produce greater volumes of storm water runoff. So storm water runoff enters the drainage network at higher velocities than would have historically – then directed to a detention pond that may now be flowing into a receiving stream at higher velocities for a longer duration of time. This can result in increased stream channel erosion and down cutting, poor water quality, increased downstream flooding, and more frequent flooding

- Few precedents for floodplain restoration as a storm water BMOo Pennsylvania Stormwater BMP Manual included floodplain

restoration as a structural BMP- Storm water credits – approach used where storm water

management requirements are reduced on a development site in exchange for reforestation or directing storm water runoff to a vegetated riparian corridor

o Vermont, Minnesota, and Maryland state storm water manuals provide a “sheet flow to buffer” credit assuming that required water quality treatment is achieved for storm water runoff that flows into the vegetated riparian corridor

Minnesota Stormwater Manual also provides reforestation credit options: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=8944

Vermont Stormwater Treatment Standards 2002 http://www.vtwaterquality.org/stormwater/docs/sw_manual-vol1.pdf

Maryland: http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/StormwaterManagementProgram/MarylandStormwaterDesignManual/Documents/www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/sedimentstormwater/Design_Manual_Appendix_E_2008.pdf

- In Ohio, OSU and the Ohio DNR are developing tools and procedures to predict and quantify the benefits of floodplains for reducing flood peak discharge and flow velocity

- Precedent for the use of floodplain reforestation to help meet storm water 'management requirements for new development and redevelopment are found in NC, VT, MN, and MD

o North Carolina DENR Stormwater Manual: http://www.mcet.org/mining/environment/Toolkit/Additional

%20Resources/Best%20Management%20Practices%20General/North%20Carolina%20BMPs_Part%201.pdf

Chagrin River Watershed Partners (2009)CRWP represents 94% of the watershed of 36 communities and park districts. Had funding to analyze the impact of setbacks on property values, provide training for setback implementation, demonstrate floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP, and provide the tools necessary to ensure storm water BMP functioning and funding.

- Objective 3: Demonstrate Floodplain Restoration during Development

o Designing of floodplain restoration demonstration projects as a component of a development’s overall storm water management plan

o Research of other states showed that floodplain restoration has not been regularly used as a storm water BMP

o Using floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP will require approval by Ohio EPA on a case by case basis

o CRWP is working with Ohio EPA, ODNR and OSU to promote floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP where appropriate

o A guidance and case study document was created to assist local design and review engineers in using floodplain restoration as a storm water BMP

- Objective 4: Provide Tools Necessary to Ensure Storm Water BMP Function and Funding

American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Case Studies in Proactive Flood ManagementChehalis River Basin, WA

- Collaborative basin-wide strategy that emphasizes the value of simultaneously pursuing large scale, small scale, and ecosystem based projects

Miami Conservancy District- A series of dry dams preserve normal bae flows for the Miami

Basin, storing waters only during high precipitation events- They preserved floodplain acres, which have been transformed

into waterfront parks for public access- O&M costs funded through local tax assessments

Easton, PA (population: 27,000)- Administered a 500-year flood standard in 2007 becoming the

first city in the country to voluntarily expand to this standard.

This was because of 2004, 2005, and 2006 devastating floods that exceeded the designated 100-year magnitude

- Focused on managing the built environment in the floodplain as opposed to pursuing a property buyout program because the City had high-density development, lack of vacant land onto which floodplain structures could be moved, and a strong ethic for historic preservation so a traditional floodplain buyout program was not an option

- The City also made revisions to its ordinances, road dieted (reduce impervious road surfaces), urban parks, brownfield reuse and revitalization, protection of key infrastructure by moving out of the inundation zone, and involvement in regional efforts along shared water bodies.

- This model might be helpful for older and/or high density communities that have little vacant land that have industrial or downtown commercial zones vulnerable to flooding

Nashville, TN- City has developed flood warning systems, expanded its Home

Buyout Program to remove floodplain structures, and considered several alternatives to protect critical water infrastructure

Flood Management Tools Discussed in Case Studies in Proactive Flood Management:

Flood Ordinances and Zoning (Subdivision Codes, Street Standards or Road Design Manual, Building and Fire Regulations/Standards, Storm water Management or Drainage Criteria, buffer or floodplain regulations, landscaping ordinance, grading ordinances, etc…)

Floodplain Restoration and Riparian Conservation Erosion Control Channel Maintenance Levee Setbacks Home Buyout Programs NFIP Participation Data Monitoring (Mapping) (Emergency Services) (Warning System) (Property Protection Measures)

Seattle, WA- Has a local storm water requirements for development to

implement green storm water infrastructure practices and control flow

Example of Floodplain Analysis and Mapping Standards Guidance Document – Mecklenburg Countyhttp://charmeck.org/stormwater/StormWaterAgencies/Documents/Peers%20PDF/2012FloodplainMappingStandards.pdf

- Establishes a standardized process to incorporate changes in the watersheds and streams, correct errors and deficiencies in existing maps, and incorporate improved mapping data and methods

o i.e. Hydraulic Analysis Standards and use of HEC-RAS

Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual- Recognizes floodplain restoration as a BMP and tool for meeting

water quality and quantity requirements- While traditional on-site BMPs focus on the development site

itself, flood restoration can focus on the site and the receiving streams. This can help increase flexibility to address onsite BMP limitations such as steep slopes, shallow bedrock, or property limitations

Montana Floodplain Management Assessmenthttp://dnrc.mt.gov/wrd/water_op/floodplain/outreach/mt_floodplain_management_assessment.pdf

- Flood tools educational website (includes flood risk map, loss calculator, flood claims, average claim): http://www.floodtools.com/Map.aspx

Duties of the Floodplain Administrator 1. Understand the regulations2. Require permits3. Make floodplain determinations

4. Make substantial improvement / damage determination5. Issue or deny permits6. Review plans and specifications7. Inspect development8. Ensure all other permits are obtained9. Take enforcement action10. Keep records11. Maintain and help update flood data and maps

Silver Jacketshttp://www.nfrmp.us/state/

- The Silver Jackets is an innovative program that provides an opportunity to consistently bring together multiple state, federal, and sometimes tribal and local agencies to learn from one another and apply their knowledge to reduce risk. State agencies, including those of the State Hazard Mitigation Officer and State NFIP Coordinator, come together with the Federal family of agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in a common forum to address the state's flood risk management priorities. Silver Jacket programs are developed at the state level. There are currently 43 active state teams and 7 states developing teams; the ultimate goal is to offer an interagency team in every state.

Ohio Floodplain Regulation Criteria (2006)- General floodplain management activities in Ohio – provides

higher standards section from NFIP and what that would look like should a community want to adopt (also says who might benefit most from the higher standard)

- http://www.pemberville.org/files/Flood/ Ohio_Floodplain_Regulation_Criteria.pdf